Self-sealing receptacle



Feb. 5, 1935'. V H. HUBBELL, JR

SELF SEALING RECEPTACLE Filed May 3,- 1928 u m m a M //IIIIIIIIIIIIPatented Feb. 5, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SELF-SEAIMG BECEPTACLEHarvey Hubbell, Jr., Bridgeport, Conn. Application May 3, 1928, SerialNo. 274,892

' 2 Claims. (01. 173-430) This invention relates to electric outletreceptacles such as are adapted to receive the contact blades ofattachment plug caps to electrically connect portable electric devices,such as sewing machines, vacuum cleaners, lamps and so forth,

to the house wiring system.

In the standard outlet receptacles which are used in large numbers atthe present time the inlet slots for the knife blade contacts are openand exposed with the consequent liability of entrance of dust and dirt,and there is also danger of a child inserting a hair pin or other metalobject through these slots into contact with the live electricalcontacts in the receptacle, with the 1 consequent liability of injury tothe child and the electrical system. 1

It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide an outletreceptacle which is self sealing so that as soon as the attachment plugcap is withdrawn from the receptacle the slots leading to the receptaclecontacts are automatically. closed against entrance of dust and dirt orthe liability of a child inserting a metal object, as above indicated,to come in contact with the live contacts in the receptacle.

with the foregoing and other objects in view,

I have devised the construction illustrated in theaccompanying drawingforming a part of this specification. In this drawing,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the receptacle showing it mounted withthe usual face plate. 2 is a vertical central section through thereceptacle on a larger scale showing it applied in a wall outlet box,the section of the receptacle being substantially on line 2-2 of Fig. l.I

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the sealing element showing it inposition for insertion of a knife blade of an attachment plug cap, theseblades being shown in section.

Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of the sealing plate. I Fig. 5 is a detailsection and partial elevation showing the mounting for the spring foroperating the sealing plate.

Fig. 6 is a rear elevation showing the means for mounting the supportand operating means for the sealing plate.

Figs. '1 and 8 are detail sections through portions of the sealingplate, and

Fig. 9 is a detail section showing the means for mounting and protectingthe receptacle contacts, the section being on substantially line 9-9 ofFig. 2.

The receptacle is shown as mounted in a standard wall outlet box 10mounted in the usual manner in a recess in the wall 11, a base board orany other desired location. The receptacle comprises a body member 12 ofinsulating material having chambers 13 opening through the rear wall ofthis body member, in which chamber are mounted the spring receptaclecontact members 14, and which 5 are connected to suitable binding screws15 for connection of the lead wires 16 of the house wiring system. Onits front wall this body member is provided with suitable slots 17 forentrance of the e blade contacts 18 of an attachment l0 plug cap, whichslots lead to, the chambers 13 for entrance of these blades to engagethe spring contacts 14 in the usual manner.

The rear entrance openings to the chambers 13 are closed by aninsulating plate 19- secured l5 against the rear wall of the body memberby any suitable means, such as insert rivets 20, molded into the bodymember and passing through openings in the plate 19. The body member ismounted in a substantially U-shaped yoke 21 which may 20 be asubstantially flat metal strap extending along the outside of the plate19, and having openings through which the rivets 20 extend and againstwhich the free ends are spun over, as shown at 22, to secure the bodymember to the yoke and 25 also to secure the insulating plate to thebody member.. The side arms of the yoke are preferably seated in grooves23 in the opposite end walls of the body member, and extend outwardly toform end portions 24 bywhich the yoke and receptacle may be mounted inthe wall box 10 by means of adjusting screws 25 threaded into the flange26 of'the wall box.

Mounted over the entrances to the inlet slots 17 is my improved sealingplate 2'1. This is a plate composed of insulating material, and ispreferably'circular although not necessarilyso. It is secured to thefront side of the body member 12 and extends into the usual opening inthe face plate 28, which after the receptacle is mounted 40 in the wallbox is placed to cover the opening in the wall and give a neat andattractive appearance. The plate may be secured to the yoke 21 by thesecuring screws 29. The sealing plate has through it slots 30 which areof the same shape and spacing as the slots 17 in the front wall of thebody member so that the slots 30 may be brought into alignment with theslots 17 for entrance of the knife blade contacts 18. This sealing plate2'? is mounted on a pivot pin or shaft 31, and this pin is preferablyprovided with a noncircular head such as-a square head 32 molded intothe sealing plate so that the plate is permanently attached to this pinand will rotate therewith. The pin is mounted to turn in the bodydesired so that the recess is in the body member member 12, and extendsentirely through the same and projects from the rear wall thereof. Italso passes through theinsulat mg plate 19 and the yoke 21 and ma spiltfree end so that it may be turned over in opposite directions againstthe washer 33 on the outside of the yoke to secure the sealing plate inposition. The yoke has a lateral oflset 34 in whicl is mounted a coilspring 35. This spring has one end 36 extending into the slot in theiorked end of the pin 31, and its other end 37' engages one side of theyoke so that when properly positioned the spring tends to rotate theshaft or pin 31 and with it sealing plate 27.

In the rear wall of the sealing plate is a curved recess 38 into whichmay project a stop lug in the body member. This stop lug may be a shortstud or pin 33 molded into the body member project ng at its free endinto this recem, as

shown Fig.7, or it may be a lug 40 molded in one piece with the bodymember and extending into the recesses shown in Fig. 8. o It will beobvious that these elements may be rerersed if and the stop lug is onthe plate. This stop lug cooperating with the ends of the recess willlimit turning movements of the sealing plate:

When assembled the recess 38 and the stop lugs 39 or 40 are so arrangedthat the sealing plate 2"! may have a movement of approximately ninetydegrees. when assembled the spring 55 is tensioned so that it tends toswing or turn the sealing plate 27 to a position shown in Fig. 1 withthe slots 30 in this plate out of aiignment with the slots 17 in thebody member. It will be clear that in this position the slots 17 in thebody member are closed by the sealing plate against entrance of dust anddirt and it will be impossible for a child to force a hair pin or otherobject through the slots 17 to the live spring contacts 14. However,when one wishes to insert the knife blades of an attachment plug cap,the ends of these blades as indicated at 18, Fig. 3, may be placed inthe slots 30in the sealing plate with their ends resting the front wallof the body member 12. Then by merely turning the cap clockwise or tethe right a, quarter revolutionlthe blades will turn the plate 2.7 tothe position of Fig. 3 bringing the slots 30 in the sealing plate inalignment with the slots in the body plate and permitting the contactblades to be forced into the receptacle by'merely pushing inwardly onthis receptacle in the usual manner. The knife blades now engage thereceptacle contacts 14 in the-usual manner. As soon as the knifebladesare withdrawn from the receptacle the spring 35 turn the plate .inthe opposite direction a quarter revolution to the position of Fig. 1.again cloning the entrance to the slots Movement of the sealing plate inthis direction is limited by the stop lug 39 or 40 engaging one end ofthe curved recess 38. It will, therefore, be apparent that the entranceto the riots in the body member are automatically closed as soon as theattachment plug cap is withdrawn from the receptacle, the springretains.the sealing plate in closed position until it is again turned asindicated above, to bring the slots in the plate into' alignment withthe slots in the receptacle. I have, therefore, with this constructionproduced a self sealing receptacle which is eflectively sealed when notin use.

Having thus set forth the nature of my invention, what I claim is: v

1. An electric receptacle comprising an insulating body member -havingchambers opening through the rearwall thereof, spring contacts in saidchambers, said bodybeing provided with knife blade contact openings inits front wall leading to said chambers, a, sealing plate mounted oversaid openings and provided with similar openings adapted by turningmovement of said plate to be brought into alignment with the openings inthe body, a pivot pin secured to said plate and extending through saidbody, an insulating plate on the rear of said body over the entrances tosaid chambers, a yoke extending transversely at the rear of said latterplate on which the body is mounted and provided with arms for mountingin a wall outlet box, a coiled spring mounted between the yoke and theinsulating plate and connected to said pin, saidspring. tending to turnthe plate to close the openings in the front of the body member, andmeans to limit said turning movements.

I 2. An electric receptacle comprising an insulating body member havingchambers therein, spring contacts in said chambers, said body beingprovided with knife blade contact openings in its front wall leading tosaid chambers, asealing plate mounted over said openings and providedwith similar openings adapted by movement of the plate to be broughtinto alignment with the openings in the body, a pivot secured to saidplate and extending through said body, a yoke on which the body ismolmted, said yoke including a portion extending across the rear of thebody and provided with arms for mounting in a wall outlet box, saidpivot at its inner end extending through said yoke, a coil spring at oneside 01'. the yoke and about said pin, said spring having one endanchored to the pin and having its other end anchored on the yoke, andsaid spring tending to turnthelsealing plate to close the openings inthe front of the body member.

HUBBEIL, JR.

